United saw off Mons Calpe 3-1 in early November, in what was possibly our best performance so far this season and the Calpeans had a very out of sorts First Round. They changed managers during the Winter Break and have reinforced well and are in a rich vein of form being since the restart, their only loss being a narrow 1-0 defeat to Europa.

United see the return of several players following a one match suspension for the accumulation of yellow cards but have Aguiar missing following his two yellows in the game against Lions. Roman Salado is also a long term absentee due to injury. Spots are up for grabs in the team and the players have hit the trainig ground hard. Kick off this Wednesday evening at 20:30.

Match corresponding to the 13th Round of the Gibraltarian Premier Division and played on Friday 23rd February 2018 at 20:30. Match report brought to you courtesy of Quantocoin and Turicum Private Bank.

Manuel Roman Salado on for Filipe Da Cruz Ramahlo
Micheal Negrette on for Leo Pereyra
Tito De Torres on for Manuel Roman Salado

United come into this game with morale sky high. A priceless 3 points against St Joseph’s last week and a thrid win on the bounce. Last week’s efforts however did have its casualties. Baio, Barnett and Meireles are all missing for this game due to suspension and in for them come Mouelhi, Pipo and Aguiar, the latter also returning from a one match ban for 5 yellows. United know that only 3 points against Lions will make all the effort and sacrifice made last week count.

A game that was dominated by the 16 bookings Mr Barcelo dished out and the terrific injury suffered by Roman that has seen him hospitalised and awaiting surgery. United dominated a first half that was punctuated by non stop fouling and a referee’s whistle that seemed to go off every 15 seconds. Indeed it only took 1 minute for Breakspear to get the first booking of the game for sycthing down Pipo straight from the kick off.

United had the best chances of the half with Aguiar and Farinha pressing forwards and the Lions defence having no solution to Elghobashy other than incessant fouling, soon enough three Lions players would have bookings to their name for fouling the Egytptian. Ayman was to have the clearest chances in the half. He skyed a dropped corner from four yards out and pinged a shot from an impossible angle off the crossbar on the cusp of half time. Dani also rustled the side netting with a sublime free kick. Small islands of quality play amid the start-stop-start-stop imposed by the refereeing team that sent two Lions coaches to the stands and were not tolerating any back chat whatsoever. It made for a somewhat turgid 45 minutes that saw more bookings than chances.

There was little change in the second half as Mr Barcelo kept booking players left and right with both teams eventually ending up with 10 men for double yellows. As Lions dug in deep Nuñez made somewhat of a rarity, play with two out and out strikers as Roman replaced Pipo in the 55th minute. As our dymanic became more attacking so did our number of chances increase. Ayman was twice thwarted by the excellent Gonzalez in goal and Roman himself had two gilted edged chances. The first he created with his trademark lightning pace and pulled just shy of the goal. The second, and cursedly so, was a turn and shot that resulted in the forward crumpled on the floor screaming in pain clutching his left leg. Gonzalez in the Lions goal was quick to get the ref to get the medical services on the pitch as he sensed there was something wrong. Indeed Roman would end up being evacuated to St Bernard’s hospital via ambulance where he is awaiting surgery on his injury. Season over for the likeable native of Chiclana and our thoughts and prayers are with him.

The game petered out with Lions at times defending with 6 players as United tried to breakthrough. Dani, Ayman and Ayman spurrned more chances and were soon were joined by De Torres as he replaced Roman. Alas it ended in staltemate with the injury overshadowing the result as concern for Roman’s health occupied the thoughts of those at the Club.

United come into the match following the pitched battle against St Joseph’s last weekend which ended up in the Red and Whites catching the Saints in 3rd. Several players will be out due to accumulation of yellow cards but Filipe Aguiar is back after serving his suspension and Roman Salado is chomping at the bit to get back onto the pitch as a starter. A 3-1 win in October was the last result between the teams.

Lions also come into the game following a victory over Man 62 that has righted the ship following some rocky results following the winter break. They will surely seek to build on that success while United know that the result against the Saints will mean nothing if they cannot score some points off Lions. Kick off Friday 20:30 under the lights.

Two titantic games dominated Round 12 as 1st met 2nd and 3rd and 4th squared off. While Lincoln and Europa shared the spoils, Gibraltar United took a valuable 3 points off St Joseph’s in a tight game. Glacis United continued their post Winter Break free fall losing to Phoenix while Mons Calpe comfortable saw off Lynx F.C. in the midweek kick off. Lions also put their season back on track late on Saturday evening by beating Man 62 4-2 to see the Red Devils once again propping up the table but still in touch with Lynx in 9th.

Round 13 kicks off with Gibraltar Phoenix against St Joseph’s. Mons Calpe will once again seek to plunder the lower echelons of the league for points as its Man 62 up next for them. Europa and Lincoln face off against Glacis United and Lynx F.C. respectively. Gibraltar United meet Lions on Friday with both teams coming into the game on the backs of morale boosting wins.

Leo Pereyra on for Daniel Ponce de Leon
Filipe Da Cruz Ramahlo on for Jamie Bosio
Alberto Del Rio Fernandez on for Andre De Oliviera Farinha

Suspension forces Manolo to suffle his pack as Aguiar is serving a one match ban due to an accumulation of 5 yellow cards. Negrette and Power come back into the side for this pivotal match against St Joseph’s, the latter in an unfamiliar left back role. Both clubs know that a win will mean a big step forward in deciding who finishes 3rd this season. United come into the game in good form and so to St Joseph’s in what promises to be a cracker.

The match promised much and boy did it deliver. Two teams going for it knowing that the 3 points were crucial for their respective causes. St Joseph’s started the game very well positioned on the pitch and it took a while for United to find their rhythm. Dani was well shackled by sometimes two players at a time while the 3 central midfielders were all hands to the pump, Carrasco and Bosio were to go ahead and have tremendous performances.

The initial exchanges saw little goal mouth action with the pitched battle centered around midfield but as the play began to get more expansive chances galore were to fall to both teams, indeed Chino and Garica in the St Jospeh’s goal thr respective man of the match for their teams. Dani had our first chance with a powerful shot driven just wide while moments later Garcia made his first save of the match from an Elghobashy shot. United had woken up and took control of the game. Yet St Joseph’s are a tough side and fought back hard as possession ebbed and flowed and the fairly large crowd at the stadium were treated to a tense but entertaining match.

Such a tense affair would preclude a flurry of bookings and when Barnett went into the book early doors it augured what would a total of 13 bookings in a match that at times took on an ugly turn. Marco and Dani took our danger forward while St Joseph’s looked to JP Duarte and Galvin to create. Both defences were holding firm with Negrette holding his own at left full back. As United surged forward Bosio broke through into the box, whiel waiting for the through ball he was tackled from behind and Mr Canepa rightly pointed at the penalty spot despite the vociferous St Joseph’s appeals. Dani stepped up and rifled in his second penalty of the spot and his third goal for the club leaving Garcia no chance to get it.

Elghobashy headed wide shortly after from a Farinha cross and the Egyptian, who was having a decent game in harassing the St Joseph’s defence, was to also have another effort safely held by Garcia. The last chance of the first half was to fall to Muñoz but Chino was equal of the effort and would ensure that United would take a slender lead into the changing rooms. Several players on boths sides were very riled up and the worry was that 22 players would not finish on the field of play.

St Joseph’s came out the much better team in the second half knowing that a point was the bare minimum they needed out of this game. They asserted a tremendous amount of pressure in the first 15 minutes of the half that saw United under the cosh and suffering. Towering above that pressure was Chino that made a series of saves to keep his goal safe. Two in particular stand out, a close range reflex save from a header and a save from a dangerous free kick from the let of our area. The latter captured by Vanessa Correa on Twitter.

The skipper’s performance inspired his team mates ahead of him. With St Joseph’s fully comitted to the attack gaps opened up for Ayman to exploit. He twice got himself in the area but twice Garcia pulled off tremendous saves to keep the match at 1-0. Marco also could not best the keeper and several efforts went wide. The match was on a knife edge and it nearly toppled over when Barnett hand balled in the area following some deft ball control by Galvin. Mr Canepa, correctly so, pointed to the spot. Up stepped Galvin…

United off the hook and with time ebbing away the goal of 3 points getting closer and closer. A flurry of bookings ensued and Mr Canepa did very well in keeping the match under his control as tempers and frustrations simmered. Leo came on to add some composure to the middle of the park, replacing a tiring Dani who once again had a blinder. Pipo and Alberto also came on with 15 minutes to go to safeguard Farinha on a yellow and for Bosio who had had a tremendous game. More and more gaps were opening in the St Jospeh’s rearguard but tired minds meant that neither Pipo, Ayman nor Marco could convert the chances offered them. Mr Canepa called time on the game after the 5 minutes of alloted extra time were up to leave United with the 3 points and still in 4th but tied on points with St Joseph’s and with the head to head firmly in favour. Objective achieved!!

Photo courtesy of Neil Wilson

There were several unsavouy incidents at the touchline on full time involving several players from both teams and the St Joseph’s technical staff. Scenes like these have no place in or around a football pitch and we urge all sides to be tempered and remember that an increasingly number of young, football loving people are attending the games at the Stadium and the best of examples have to be set.

Both teams come into the game in good form and on the back of successive wins. United can look back to the earlier game this season and a 3-1 win over the Blues and Whites for inspiration.

Manolo does not have Aguiar available for selection due to a ban for 5 yellow cards but has the rest of the squad fighting for a place for this pivotal match in the fight for 3rd place. Kick off 18:15.

Round 11 has thrown up some interesting results and performances. Round 10 had two games postponed due to the inclement weather last week but fortunately there has been a full round of matches this time around. Lynx battled for a second point on the trot after a 0 – 0 draw against Lions FC. Lincoln also suffered to see off Phoenix 1 – 0 following a great performance by the latter. Europa likewise had a tough match versus Mons Calpe, again a 1 – 0 victory and 3 red cards shown. United also had to dig deep to see Man 62 while in the remaining tie of the Round St Joseph’s saw off Glacis United 3 – 0.

Lincoln vs Europa is the stand out tie of Round 12. The Green and Blacks know only a win will keep any faint title hopes alive. 3rd and 4th are also matched up with United and St Joseph’s crossing swords. A win for the Saints and they consolidate 3rd place. A win for United will them creep into 3rd. Elsewhere Man 62 will look for their first win of the season against Lions FC while Phoenix and Glacis will look for their first points of the New Year. Lynx will hope to once again get some points against Mons Calpe. A win for the Yellow and Blacks will take them over the Calpeans into 8th.

Manolo keeps 10 of the men that so osundly beat Man 62 in the cup. The only change sees Brad drop to the bench for Ayman to slot in to the middle of defence alongside Erin. Pipo wins a spot on the bench as United seek a second victory against Man 62 in less than a week. Man 62 will no doubt be out for Revenge but United know that 3 points will widen the gap from Glacis in 5th and keep the pressure on St Joseph’s in 3rd.

(Match photos courtesy of William Gracia)

United kicked the match in the hope of continuing where they left off last Wednesday and judging by the scintillating form with which Dani began it seemed that’s what they did. Starting wide on the right he led the Man 62 right back on a merry dance a number of times with his guile and quick feet. Indeed United’s first chance came from a cross from the right which Ayman headed wide from the penalty spot. Dani himself quickly had our second chance with a strong shot from the edge of the box after cutting inside that was well saved by Cafer. The latter was to prove to be Man 62’s man of the match as he pulled off a series of spectacular saves to keep his team in the match throughout the game.

Dani tries his luck from the edge of the box.

United’s supporters however were stunned 10 minutes into the game when Man 62 took a shock lead. Duran and Mouelhi tussled for the ball on the by line and credit to the Man 62 player that was sharper and won the ball, cut inside and drilled in a cross that was knocked into the goal by an unmarked Reyes in the middle of the box. An uncharacteristic mistake by Mouelhi who then proceeded to have a great game winning everything in the air and sweeping up Man 62’s forlorn counters.

Man 62 take an unexpected lead.

Gib Utd responded well with Elghobashy forging a great chance for himself and Marco also having a shot from close range. Cafer, however, was the equal of both efforts with a great reaction save from Elghobashy’s point blank range shot. Was it going to be one of those matches? An element of time wasting had crept into Man 62’s game and frustrations were beginning to boil. Frustrations that were clamed when Yalany Baio equalised with a well taken shot 20 minutes into the game. The resolute Cafer was finally beaten as the fan favourite opened his account with the Club. A justly deserved equaliser considering the lion’s share of possession and chances that we had had.

Baio equalises!

United continued to bomb forward as Man 62 closed ranks and saw out the remaining of the half to go into the dressing room with a 1 – 1 score line. The second half kicked off in the same vein with man 62 further entrenched and United looking to breakthrough. Mouelhi had a chance from a corner that went wide while Bosio directed a mishit Meireles shot onto the post. Despite having almost all the possession of the ball there was no way through. Man 62’s defence, up to 6 men at several points, were fighting hard for their point. Pipo and Roman came on for Bosio and a tiring Elghobashy but still there was no way through.

Bosio and Cafer.

As Preito threw on more defenders and time was ebbing away neither Dani’s magic feet nor could Roman’s lightning feet find us the way through. 86 minutes in it was all change. Dani tried for the umpteenth time by once again shooting at goal. His shot struck Galvez clearly on the hand as it went goal wards. Mr Reoch did not hesitate and pointed to the spot. It was an easy decision to make and the heartbreak in the defender’s face was evident after such a staunch rear guard battle. Despite some gamesmanship, Dani was calm and collected as he slotted the ball to the left of the diving Cafer to seal the game and 3 valuable points for the Reds and Whites. A second strong penalty shout following a tackle on Marco was judged by the referee to be simulation a few minutes later. Mr Reoch brought the game to a its conclusion following 5 minutes of extra time to leave United in 4th, 3 points behind St Joseph’s. A cracking game on Saturday evening has now been set up with the winner going into third. We hope to see our support out in force.

Fate throws Gib Utd and Man 62 again together in the league just 5 days after meeting in the Rock Cup. United showed their best version beating Man 62 3 – 1 and knocking them out of the Cup.

Despite that result Man 62 were able to gain a point late in the game in September earning a 1-1 draw. Manolo boasts a fully healthy squad and every player is available for selection. Will he chop and change or keep faith with the team that so soundly saw Man 62 off on Wednesday?

Kick off is at 20:30 on Monday 12th February. Time to get the league form back on track!